Single-pole electrical connector

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector for electrical and other supply connections, the connections interfitting endwise to prevent relative rotation, and a housing part to move endwise and rotatably of one connector to receive and interlock with the other connector to hold the connectors firmly together.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,771,099

Dinse 1 Nov. 6, 1973 [541, SINGLE-POLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Rl3,1387/1910 Robinson 339/16 R 3,082,394 3/1963 Hahn et a1. [761 g Kmlgsrelhe3,195,095 7/1955 Field 339/16 R ermany [22] Filed y 1 1971 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS A N 158 28,720 12/1911 Great Britain 339/16 RPrimary Examiner-Joseph H. MeGlynn [30] Foreign Application PriorityData Attorney-H. Dale Palmatier et a1.

Aug. 20, 1970 Germany P 20 41 290.2

[5 7] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 339/16 R, 339/90 R [51 l Int. Cl H011- 13/54An electncal connector electrlcal and other s upply [58] Field6156111611 339/15 16 90 mnectims, mnmctms emiwse prevent relativerotation, and a housing part to move [56] References Cited endwise androtatably of one connector to receive and interlock with the otherconnector to hold the connec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tors firmlytogether. 3,523,266 8/1970 Wetzig et a1 339/15 2,864,628 12/1958 Edleson339/16 R 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures sir/1.09s

PATENTEDNBV s 1915 3mm 1 or 3 9 V//////// l- L 8% WWI d 4 l L I SHEET 2or 3 PATENTED HUY 6 m5 SINGLE-POLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BRIEF SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to a single-pole electricalplug-in connector whose plug and socket bodies can be coupled togetherby a process of insertion into one another followed by relativerotation.

Already, the most varied kinds of electrical plug-in connections areknown, in which a retainer pin is provided which, after the elementshave been inserted into one another, engage in a groove in order byrotation to establish an electrical contact; In one specific plug-inconnector of this kind, the retainer pin is formed at the periphery ofthe plug body. When the two bodies are inserted into one another, thisretainer pin slides in a longitudinal groove in the socket body. Thelongitudinal groove opens into a helical groove, and the retainer pinand groove are so disposed in relation to one another that the plugbody, by rotation of the two bodies in relation to one another, is drawninto the socket body so that a pressure is developed which is conduciveto good electrical conduction.

The object of the present invention is to create a single-pole plug-inconnector of the kind introductorily described, which, in addition tothe main current connection, enables additional utility lines, such aselectrical control or gas or coolant supply lines to be connected aswell.

This object is achieved in that one of the two bodies is assignedadditional electrical and/or other supply connections; and in that thecorresponding connections on the other body are co-rotationallydisposed.

By virtue of the fact that the additional connections on one body areco-rotationally disposed, it is possible to couple the two bodiestogether by rotating them in rotation to one another, in order thus totransmit the main current in the coaxial conductor, and thus to ensurethat said current is transmitted properly. The facility for co-rotationof the additional connections for utility lines such as control orsupply lines, makes it possible to combine them with the known plug-inconnector used to transmit the main current.

The additional connections can be used for linking the most varied kindsof utility lines. For example, these carry the electrical control lines.In addition to electrical control through these lines, it is alsopossible to effect control through the main line, by altering thefrequency of the main current. The connectors can also be used, however,to link or join other utility lines for carrying gas, water and othercoolants and heating media. Whatever additional utility or supply linesare provided, depends upon the particular application.

Advantageously, a driver is provided in order to ensure that thecorrespondingly disposed body is corotated. This driver can, in turn,advantageously be constituted by one or more of the connections so thatit is not necessary to provide a separate element for the purpose, thisconnection or connections forming the drive function itself/themselves.

In accordance with a further constructional embodiment of the connectorin accordance with the invention, the co-rotatable connections canadvantageously be formed upon a rotatable insert. This embodiment is apreferred embodiment of the present invention in which the rotatableinsert is disposed in the housing of the associated body. Thisembodiment not only guarantees straigntforward operation, but also aneconomical one to manufacture.

The said rotatable insert, in one embodiment, is formed in the socketbody.

Considered in detail, this connector, which is equipped with a rotatableinsert, can be so designed that said insert is displaceable by the plugbody against the force of the spring and, after a specific translationalmovement, can be rotated away from an initial position. From theconstructional point of view, this connector is so designed that theplug body is equipped in the conventional way with the retainer pin andthe socket body with a longitudinal groove for guiding said pin in, plusa rising annular groove for clamping the two bodies together; and thatthe rotatable insert, with its co-rotatable actions, is fixed, in itsundisplaced initial position, in a specific angular position vis-a-visthe longitudinal groove, the connections of the plug body being adaptedto this angular position by virtue of their angular relationship to theretainer pin. This is a particularly convenient embodiment.

In this embodiment, a detent pin can be provided in the socket body,which pin, with the rotatable insert in its initial position, locates ina longitudinal detent groove therein, the length of which matches theextent of the translatory motion (of the rotatable insert) in which norotational movements can take place. This ensures that first of all thedesired contact is established at the connections, whereupon, after thesocket and plug bodies have been telescoped together, rotation can takeplace. Conveniently, the longitudinal detent groove is formed in a ringflange on the rotatable insert, said flange simultaneously doing duty asa seat for one end of the spring.

In accordance with a further constructional embodiment, the connections(contacts, etc.) of the two bodie s, can be arranged in end coversthereof. These end covers can, in turn, be made of an insulatingmaterial, for example, a suitable synthetic material, so that theindividual connections are insulated from one another. Also, economicmanufacture is thus made possible. The manufacture of the end cover fromsynthetic material also makes it possible to simultaneously form sealingelements in it so that additional O-rings or the like are unnecessary.

'If the connections are of the plug-in type, then simultaneously theycan, if required, perform the driver function too.

The insert as well will advantageously be formed as an insulating bodyin order to insulate the individual lines in relation to one another.

In one embodiment, the projecting parts (plug contacts) of theindividual plug-in connections, will be arranged above the rotatableinsert.

In order to protect the connections against damage, they can be disposedin a recessed fashion. This will advantageously be contrived byarranging for the housing of the associated body to project beyond theconnections. a

The plug-in connector in accordance with the invention is particularlysuitable for welding equipmentin which not only must there be a goodconnection for the main current between the welding machine and thewelding gun, but also between the gun and the additional utilities orsupply and control lines.

In a plug-in connector of this kind, for welding equipment, it isadvantageous for one pair of contacts to be disposed centrally and to beused to connect the guide tube for the endless filler rod which ismelted and consumed in the welding operation. This rod or wire is thusguided in an unrestricted manner. The path of the wire is not disturbed,either, by the rotation involved in establishing the plug-in connectionin accordance with the invention.

If central connections of this kind are provided, then advantageouslythese will engage with one another in taper or cone form in order toensure not only good guidance but also a clean plug connection.

If the welding machine is one which uses other utilities such as shieldgas and coolant, then a pair of connectors will be provided to link thelines for the shield gas and another pair for the, coolant lines. Theother connectors are used to link other utility lines such as controllines for switching the welding current on and off.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail makingreference to an example illustrated in the drawing, for exampleconcerning a plug-in connection for shielded arc welding machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of aplug-in connector in accordance with the invention, prior to the fittingtogether of the two halves of the connector;

FIG. 2 is a section through the illustration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragment of the section of FIG. 2, after the assemblytogether of the two plug halves;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the end of the plug body and showing the endface of the plug body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The plug-in connector illustratedin the drawing is indicated in general by numeral 40 consists of a plugand a socket which are designed, in addition to the contents of carryingthe relatively heavy welding current, to link with one another severalother supply lines. The plug has the various utility or supply linestaken to it in a bunch within a sleeve 1. The actual plug body 21 isarranged in a housing 2 which projects at 20 in order to protect theexposed section of the plug body. The housing consists of rubber or somesimilar material.

The socket body 8 illustrated opposite the plug body is likewiseprotected by a rubber sleeve 3. Over the socket body, two insulatingsleeves 4 and 6 are slid between which the fixing plate for the socketis located. Attachment is effected by means of a nut 7 and a spring ring9. The socket body 8 is at this end provided with an external thread.Between the socket body and the tapered hollow screw 11, the supply line10 for the welding current, is clamped. The hollow screw has an externalthread which mates with a corresponding internal thread in the socketbody.

The line for the welding current to the plug, is in the form of a hollowconductor 17 which is clamped between a conical screw 18 and acorresponding conical nut 19. The nut 19 is in turn screwed into theplug body 21.

Extending centrally through the connector 40 is a two part guide tubeand main current conductor 13 for the welding rod or wire. This guidetube terminates in the plug body 21, at a flared plug-in connector 13alocated at the end face of the plug body and in the socket body 8 at atapered plug-in connector 13b which fits with the connector 13a. Theconnector 13a is arranged in an end cover 25 made of synthetic material,in the plug body 21. Also, a two part utility line 14 in the form of aconduit or tube for the shield gas passes through the connector 40. Theends of this line 14 are linked through tubular sections 24 withcorresponding plug-in connectors 14a and 14b which enter one another.The connector 14a is located at the end face of plug body 21 and in theend cover 25 thereof. Instead of or in addition to this line 14, a waterand/or a compressed air line can be provided. Finally, two additionallytwo part utility lines in the form of electrical control signalconductors 15 for welder controlling electrical signals pass through theconnector 40. These are clamped by screws 16 and linked with plug-inconnectors 15a and 15b which enter one another. The connection 15a islikewise arranged at the end face of the plug body 21 in the end cover25.

In the socket body 8 there is assembled a displaceable and rotatableinsert 12 of synthetic material through which the guide tube 13, gasduct 14, and signal conductor 15b extend. This insert 12 is displaceableagainst the load of the spring 33, this in fact by means of the plugbody 21 when assembled with the socket body 8. Arranged in the socketbody 8 is a detent pin 30 which projects into a longitudinal detentgroove 31 contained in a flange 29 of the insert 12. This detent pin 30prevents the rotation of the insert 12 until the longitudinal detentgroove has been displaced beyond the range of the detent pin, during theinsertion of the plug body. The spring 33 seats between the flange 29 ofinsert 12 and one end of the conical hollow screw 11 which is secured tosocket body 8.

Centrally in the rotatableinsert 12 is one part of the guide tube andmain conductor 13 for the filler rod. The plug-in connector 13b of thisguide tube 13 is conical or tapered, i.e., has a chamfer the angle ofwhich corresponds with the flare in the plug-in connector 13a.

In the socket body 8, an opening 8a is provided the internal diameter ofwhich corresponds with the external diameter of the front section of theplug body 21. A longitudinal keyway groove 27 guides the retainer orkeying pin 22 when plug and socket bodies are slid together. These twobodies are then tightened into contact with one another by rotating themin relation to one another so that the retainer pin 22 enters thehelical groove 28 of socket body 8. When this happens, the socket body 8is tightened into contact with the conical surface 26 on the plug bodyso that good conduction of the relatively heavy current is ensured atthe assembled pair of plug-in connectors 13a, 13b.

The assembly of the connection is effected by moving the plug body 21into the socket body 8. As this happens, the protective section 20 ofthe housing 2 enshrouds the corresponding rubber sleeve 3. The retainerpin 22 is guided in the longitudinal groove 27 and at the same time theassociated connectors 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a and 15b enter one anotherand are joined together by simple, endwise movement and are heldtogether under the continuous pressure of spring 33". When an adequateinitial connection has been es tablished the insert 12 will have beendisplaced sufficiently far so that its rotation is no longer preventedby the detent pin 30 since at this stage it has left the longitudinaldetent groove 31. If, now, the plug body 21 is rotated relative tosocket body 8, in order to tighten up in the region of the conicalsurface 26, by operation of the retainer pin 22 in the helical groove28, the plugin connectors 14a, 14b, 15a and 15b act as drivers so thatthe rotatable insert 12 is rotated along with them and plug body 21 andthus the joints already established at the connectors are drawn snuglytogether. Because of the conical or tapered design of the connectors13a, 13b, good centering is achieved. After the assembly of theconnector 40,.the condition shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. Thus, the plugbody 21 has been moved in the direction of its own longitudinal axis asindicated by the arrow A. The insert 12 was displaced by a smallerextent in the longitudinal direction, as indicated by the arrow B. Thearrow C indicates thatthe insert 12 can rotate within socket body 8. Inthe illustration of FIG. 3, the plug body (see retainer pin 22) occupiesthe same position as in the illustration of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows that in the present embodiment, in addition to the line forthe welding current there are three other supply lines provided. Theseare the two electrical control lines 15 whose connector 15a are shown inFIG. 2. These lines are part of an electrical control circuit fortransmission of control signals by means of which the welding current isswitched on or off. Furthermore, the connector 13a is provided for theguide tube 13 and the connector 14a for the shield gas line 14.

What is claimed is:

1. A single pole electrical connector for conducting a main current andan auxiliary utility, comprising:

a plug body having an end face and an elongate socket body removablyreceiving the plug body therein, the plug and socket bodies havinginterfitting means permitting relative rotation between the plug bodyand the socket body and about a longitudinally extending axis and saidinterfitting means drawing said bodies tightly together by reason ofsuch rotation,

an insulated rotatable insert in the elongate socket body and movablerelative to the socket body both longitudinally and rotatably relativeto such axis, and spring means restraining endwise movement of therotatable insert in the socket body away from the plug body, and urgingthe rotatable insert toward the socket body, the rotatable insert havingan end face confronting the end face of the plug body,

a main electrical current conductor in two endwise separable partsconnected together by a pair of interfitting and endwise separableplug-in connectors, the two parts of the current conductor respectivelyextending longitudinally through the plug body and the insulated insertand being affixed therein, said interfitting connectors of said pair ofplug-in connectors being respectively disposed at the confronting endfaces of the plug body and insert,

an auxiliary utility line in two endwise separable parts connectedtogether by a pair of interfitting and endwise separable plug-in utilityconnectors, the I both of said pairs of endwise separable conductor andutility plug-in connectors being functionally assembled upon relativeconvergent endwise movement of the plug body and rotatable insert, andone of said pairs of plug-in connectors being spaced from the rotationaxis of the socket body and plug body and rotatable insert and saidlast-mentioned one pair of plug-in connectors also being functionallyassembled upon initial endwise assembly of the plug body and socket bodyand producing rotation of the insert with the plug body as the plug bodyis rotated and drawn into the socket body and toward the insert to drawthe main current and utility plu gin connectors snugly togethen Aconnector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said utility line is a conduitfor fluid flow and said plug-in utility connectors define a passageproviding fluid flow communication therethrough.

3. A connector for welding equipment to which endless filler rod or wireis supplied, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main current conductorcomprises a guide tube for the endless filler rod or wire consumed in awelding operation. i

4. The connector according to claim 1 and the two part main conductorand" main conductor plug-in connectors thereof being disposed along theaxial center of the relatively rotatable plug and socket bodies and therotatable insert, and

the two part utility line and the utility plug-in connectors thereof arespaced outwardly from said axial center to produce rotation of theinsert with the plug body. 5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid utility line is a conductor for electriccontrol signals and saidutility connector transmits such control signals.

6. The connector according to claim 1 and the plug and socket bodieshaving guide means including a transverse keying pin on the plug bodyand a longitudinal keyway groove in the socket body requiringpredetermined rotational orientation of the plug and socket bodiesrelative to each other before endwise assembly with each other, andreleaseable detent means holding said rotatable insert in predeterminedrotational orientation within the socket body to align and interfit theplug-in connectors for assembly, after which the insert islongitudinally displaced by the plug body and plug-in connectorsinterfitting with each other until the detent means releases the insertto revolve with the plug body and said interfitting means for drawingthe plug and socket bodies tightly together.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6, and said detent means including adetent pin on the socket body and a longitudinally extending endwiseopen detent groove in the rotatable insert receiving the detent pin whenthe insert is in its initial position, the length of said endwise opendetent groove corresponding to the longitudinal groove of the guidemeans to release the insert for rotation when the keying pin clears theend of the keyway groove.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 7, and said rotatable insert havingan annular flange seating said spring and defining the longitudinaldetent groove, the groove extending endwise through the flange.

9. A single pole electrical connector for conducting a main current andauxiliary utilities, comprising:

elongate conductive socket body removably receiving the plug bodytherein, the socket body having an internal socket with an open end toreceive the plug body and the socket having a helical groove around theinner periphery thereof and a longitudinal keyway groove at the internalperiphery adjacent the open end and providing endwise access to thehelical groove, the plug body having a transverse external keying pin tofit in said longitudinal and helical grooves to draw the plug and socketbodies together by reason of rotation of the plug body relative to thesocket body,

an elongate and insulating rotatable insert in the socket body and beingrotatable and displaceable in an endwise direction, spring meansrestraining endwise movement of the rotatable insert in the socket bodyaway from the plug body and continuously urging the rotatable inserttoward the plug body, the rotatable insert also having an end faceconfronting the end face of the plug body,

main electrical current conductor in two endwise separable partsrespectively extending coaxially through and affixed in the plug bodyand rotatable insert, a pair of endwise assembleable and separableinterfitting connectors each affixed on one of said endwise separableconductor parts and interfitting with each other adjacent theconfronting end faces of the plug body and rotatable insert,

a pair of auxiliary utility lines each in two endwise a conductive plugbody having an end face, and an separable parts connected together by apair of interfitting plug-in utility connectors, the two parts of eachof the utility lines respectively extending longitudinally through andaffixed in the plug body and rotatable insert and in outwardly spacedrelation from and along the main electrical current conductor, theinterfitting plug-in utility connectors being disposed at theconfronting end faces of the plug body and rotatable insert and saidplug-in utility connectors producing rotation of the insert the plug-inconnectors being drawn snugly together upon rotation of the plug bodyalong the helical groove in the socket body to produce movement of theplug body against the rotatable insert and endwise displacement of therotatable insert against the pressure of the spring means.

1. A single pole electrical connector for conducting a main current andan auxiliary utility, comprising: a plug body having an end face and anelongate socket body removably receiving the plug body therein, the plugand socket bodies having interfitting means permitting relative rotationbetween the plug body and the socket body and about a longitudinallyextending axis and said interfitting means drawing said bodies tightlytogether by reason of such rotation, an insulated rotatable insert inthe elongate socket body and movable relative to the socket body bothlongitudinally and rotatably relative to such axis, and spring meansrestraining endwise movement of the rotatable insert in the socket bodyaway from the plug body, and urging the rotatable insert toward thesocket body, the rotatable insert having an end face confronting the endface of the plug body, a main electrical current conductor in twoendwise separable parts connected together by a pair of interfitting andendwise separable plug-in connectors, the two parts of the currentconductor respectively extending longitudinally through the plug bodyand the insulated insert and being affixed therein, said interfittingconnectors of said pair of plug-in connectors being respectivelydisposed at the confronting end faces of the plug body and insert, anauxiliary utility line in two endwise separable parts connected togetherby a pair of interfitting and endwise separable plug-in utilityconnectors, the two parts of the utility line respectively extendinglongitudinally through the plug body and rotatable insert and beingsecured therein in spaced and side by side relation with the endwiseseparable parts of the current conductor, said interfitting plug-inutility connectors of the pair of utility connectors being respectivelydisposed at the confronting end faces of the plug body and insert, bothof said pairs of endwise separable conductor and utility plug-inconnectors being functionally assembled upon relative convergent endwisemovement of the plug body and rotatable insert, and one of said pairs ofplug-in connectors being spaced from the rotation axis of the socketbody and plug body and rotatable insert and said last-mentioned one pairof plugin connectors also being functionally assembled upon initialendwise assembly of the plug body and socket body and producing rotationof the insert with the plug body as the plug body is rotated and drawninto the socket body and toward the insert to draw the main current andutility plug-in connectors snugly together.
 2. A connector as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said utility line is a conduit for fluid flow and saidplug-in utility connectors define a passage providing fluid flowcommunication therethrough.
 3. A connector for welding equipment towhich endless filler rod or wire is supplied, as claimed in claim 1,wherein said main current conductor comprises a guide tube for theendless filler rod or wire consumed in a welding operation.
 4. Theconnector according to claim 1 and the two part main conductor and mainconductor plug-in connectors thereof being disposed along the axialcenter of the relatively rotatable plug and socket bodies and therotatable insert, and the two part utility line and the utility plug-inconnectors thereof are spaced outwardly from said axial center toproduce rotation of the insert with the plug body.
 5. A connector asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said utility line is a conductor forelectric control signals and said utility connector transmits suchcontrol signals.
 6. The connector according to claim 1 and the plug andsocket bodies having guide means including a transverse keying pin onthe plug body and a longitudinal keyway groove in the socket bodyrequiring predetermined rotational orientation of the plug and socketbodies relative to each other before endwise assembly with each other,and releaseable detent means holding said rotatable insert inpredetermined rotAtional orientation within the socket body to align andinterfit the plug-in connectors for assembly, after which the insert islongitudinally displaced by the plug body and plug-in connectorsinterfitting with each other until the detent means releases the insertto revolve with the plug body and said interfitting means for drawingthe plug and socket bodies tightly together.
 7. A connector as claimedin claim 6, and said detent means including a detent pin on the socketbody and a longitudinally extending endwise open detent groove in therotatable insert receiving the detent pin when the insert is in itsinitial position, the length of said endwise open detent groovecorresponding to the longitudinal groove of the guide means to releasethe insert for rotation when the keying pin clears the end of the keywaygroove.
 8. A connector as claimed in claim 7, and said rotatable inserthaving an annular flange seating said spring and defining thelongitudinal detent groove, the groove extending endwise through theflange.
 9. A single pole electrical connector for conducting a maincurrent and auxiliary utilities, comprising: a conductive plug bodyhaving an end face, and an elongate conductive socket body removablyreceiving the plug body therein, the socket body having an internalsocket with an open end to receive the plug body and the socket having ahelical groove around the inner periphery thereof and a longitudinalkeyway groove at the internal periphery adjacent the open end andproviding endwise access to the helical groove, the plug body having atransverse external keying pin to fit in said longitudinal and helicalgrooves to draw the plug and socket bodies together by reason ofrotation of the plug body relative to the socket body, an elongate andinsulating rotatable insert in the socket body and being rotatable anddisplaceable in an endwise direction, spring means restraining endwisemovement of the rotatable insert in the socket body away from the plugbody and continuously urging the rotatable insert toward the plug body,the rotatable insert also having an end face confronting the end face ofthe plug body, a main electrical current conductor in two endwiseseparable parts respectively extending coaxially through and affixed inthe plug body and rotatable insert, a pair of endwise assembleable andseparable interfitting connectors each affixed on one of said endwiseseparable conductor parts and interfitting with each other adjacent theconfronting end faces of the plug body and rotatable insert, a pair ofauxiliary utility lines each in two endwise separable parts connectedtogether by a pair of interfitting plug-in utility connectors, the twoparts of each of the utility lines respectively extending longitudinallythrough and affixed in the plug body and rotatable insert and inoutwardly spaced relation from and along the main electrical currentconductor, the interfitting plug-in utility connectors being disposed atthe confronting end faces of the plug body and rotatable insert and saidplug-in utility connectors producing rotation of the insert withrotation of the plug body relative to the socket body, the socket bodyand rotatable insert having cooperating detent means includingrespectively a transversely extending detent pin and a longitudinallyextending detent groove receiving the detent pin and maintaining apredetermined rotational orientation of the rotatable insert withrespect to the socket body, but permitting longitudinal movement of theinsert to separate the detent pin and detent groove and thereafterpermit rotation of the insert in the socket body as the plug body isrevolved to draw the plug and socket bodies together, the plug-inconnectors being drawn snugly together upon rotation of the plug bodyalong the helical groove in the socket body to produce movement of theplug body against the rotatable insert and endwise displacement of therotatable insert against the pressure of the spring means.